The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-05-20
Our Washington Letter
From Our Regular Correspondent.

Washington May Is, 1887.
The past week was full of interest to the
people of Washington as we'll as to the
hundreds of strangers who came hither
| through interests scientific, business and
social. | may say there were four national
conventions. First came the hotel pro-
prietors, representing all the leading cities
and all the leading hotels of the Unite
States, who talked over matters Of mutual
interest, exchanged ideas and experiences
and had good time generally. Then
there was the American Surgical Associa-
ton, which was in session here, and the
Society of the Army Of the Cumberland
which held its annual reunion and unveil-
ed the statue it had erected to Garfield with
much impressive pomp and ceremony.
And Saturday morning saw AN assemblage
of gentlemen such as the world has rarely
witnessed. This was the forty niners--the
men who crossed mountain and plain, BRAY
ed the ice fields of the Antartc seas, or the
feryid suns and tevers of the torrid zone.
and founded new empire on the shores OF
the Pacific. A number ofthese California
pioneers, probably hundred or more met
here and spent the day together. They
boarded Potomac steamer and had sail
down the river, during which they organ
ICED California Pioneer Association. A
plank shad dinner followed, and then re cit
ais of incidents, adventures, and reminis-
cences of their eerlier days. which showed
that these "Jasons" of the new world are
still young enough to enjoy themselves.
On last Friday, President Cleveland, for
the first time in his life, made pilgrimage
to the tomb of George Washington. 1t was
at the invitation of the widow of Gen. Lo-
gan, who is now regent of the Mount Yer
non Association. The President, Mrs.
Cleveland and about dozen other invited
guests embarked ON the steamer Corcoran
late in the afternoon. Arriving there they
spent an hour or so rambling about the
historic spot and returned to the city after
night.
Two days hence soldier boys from all
over the United States will be pouring in
to Washington for the National Drill. The
The first company to arrive will be the
Vieksburg Southrons, then the Indianapo-
lis Light Infantry, the Louisiana Rifles,
and the Muscatine Rifles. Sunday will be
the busiest day for arrivals, however, and
before midnight it is expected that every
company will be quartered on the camp
ground.
Miss Clara Barton, president of the Red
Cross Society, will have charge Of the hos
pital of the encampment, and dozen locs |
physicians and surgeons will be on her
staff, as also veteIan army nurses and
number of volunteers from the Training
School for nurses. Temporary hospital
barracks are being erected, and the SOL
diers will lie we'll cared for when they get
sick.
To the majority of this city the necessity
OF a hospital department to the National
Drill seemed to be a surprise. Prepare.
tlons by the Red Cross Society seemed to
be the first suggestion to them that the
coming week of military display was likely
to place among US sick and suffering men,
strangers and soldiers who would need
treatment and care. Until then probably
not one person in hundred had realized
that there could be serious feature con.
nected with the great holiday week, or that
so much display could develop as part of
itself, an actual necessity, demanding the
same means of relief, the same watchful
care. tender sympathy. wise provision and
firm control that an equal number of SOL
diers might require in vertable camp or
actual campaign.
A moments reflection, however, makes
it apparent that it,would be impossible to
bring thousands of men here under any
form of enlistment, from their wide spread
homes subject to change of all habits of
life, food, water, climate, occupation and
rest, and place them in competitive sction
every man at his most aud best, for the
space Of nine days, without any of them
falling i'll or needing care or treatment. II
will be wonderful, indeed, if there be not
some who will never return to their homes.